Fast Break

College football

G-Prep grad plays huge role in win

It was a grand day for Navy, and particularly for Gonzaga Prep graduate Chris Kuhar-Pitters.

The senior defensive end returned a fumble for a touchdown and made two other key plays as the Midshipmen snapped an NCAA-record 43-game losing streak to the Fighting Irish on Saturday with a 46-44 victory in triple overtime.

Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada threw a 25-yard TD pass to Reggie Campbell on the first play of the third overtime, then found him again in the end zone for the two-point conversion.

Notre Dame (1-8) cut the lead to two on a 5-yard TD run by Travis Thomas. But after a pass interference call gave Notre Dame a second-chance at the two-point conversion, Kuhar-Pitters was part of a mob of defenders who tackled Thomas well short of the end zone.

The Irish held the Midshipmen to three-and-out late in the fourth quarter with the score tied at 28.

The Irish drove to the 24, but on fourth-and-8 Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis decided to go for it rather than attempt a field goal. Kuhar-Pitters, who earlier returned a fumble 16 yards for a touchdown, sacked Evan Sharpley with 45 seconds left.

Olympic trials

Marathoner Shay dies during race

Ryan Shay died during the U.S. men’s Olympic marathon trials Saturday after collapsing about 5 1/2 miles into the race. He was 28. He had been diagnosed with an enlarged heart at age 14 but cleared by doctors, his dad said.

Shay of Flagstaff, Ariz., hit the ground near East 75th Street in Manhattan during the 26.2-mile qualifier for the Beijing Games.

Shay was a favorite going into the 2004 trials but was hampered by a hamstring strain and finished 23rd. His wife, Alicia, also is a professional distance runner.

Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein and Brian Sell won spots on the men’s marathon team. The top three made the Olympics in the marathon for the first time.